Hong Kong star on the rise Helios Express is just one win away from a remarkable clean sweep of the prestigious HK 4YO Classic Series following a heart-stopping victory in the second leg, the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Trained by John Size, Helios Express travelled strongly midfield on the fence for jockey Hugh Bowman but didn’t see clear running until midway down the straight. Set what looked a daunting task to run down the clear leader Chancheng Glory, he rattled home through the closing stages to prevail in the last stride.
Winning jockey Hugh Bowman has won three in a row on Helios Express and is forging a good partnership with the son of Toronado (IRE)..
“There were a few anxious moments at the 700m mark when I couldn’t hold him but I was given no option but to ride him the way I rode him, the way the race panned out,” he said.
“I was confident he was going to give me the turn of speed which he did deliver.
“I felt at the 100m mark I was going to win comfortably but the second horse [Chancheng Glory] just wouldn’t lie down and give it to us. They’re two courageous horses who fought very hard.’’
The win comes three weeks after Helios Express’s impressive victory in the first leg of the series, the Hong Kong Classic Mile.
He will now return to Sha Tin in three weeks for Hong Kong’s most prestigious race, the Hong Kong Derby, and attempt to become just the third horse in history to claim all three legs of the prestigious 4YO Series behind only Australian bred geldings Golden Sixty (Medaglia D’Oro (USA) (2020) and Rapper Dragon (Street Boss (USA)(2017).
The Hong Kong Derby is 2000m a journey over which Helios Express is yet to be tested, but John Size is optimistic.
“It seemed like he was pretty strong in the run in a slow-run race and he was lucky to get out, get the breaks and get the leader. It could have been prettier than that, but he got the job done, so that’s the main thing,” Size said.
“I’m not sure how confident he (Bowman) was that he was going to win, but it was a difficult assignment for any rider and he certainly made a good fist of it.
“The degree of difficulty just gets greater as these races continue for each of the horses. His health has been good and his work’s been good so, at the moment, we’re hoping he’s got another one in him.”
Helios Express is a remarkable story – he cost just $10,000 to Victorian trainer Jamie Edwards of Emsley Lodge in the 2020 Inglis Digital August (Early) Online Sale, where he was offered as a yearling.
The Chris Wells-bred Helios Express raced just once in Australia - under the name Tex Mex - for Edwards, recording a 2.8L victory in a Ballarat Maiden, before being sold to Hong Kong interests.
Since arriving in Asia he has now raced eight times for six wins and two minor placings and is rapidly cementing himself as the next superstar of Hong Kong racing.
Wells tells the back story of Helios Express, who has now won seven of his nine career starts overall.
“I owned the dam Paris Texas and she won a few races but she won a race in Northam one day and when the jockey asked of her, she took off like a rocket but she had issues after that so we never really saw the best of her,’’ Wells said.
“I thought I’d breed from her and I Iiked Toronado as a sire so I went there, then decided to sell him on Inglis Digital because I’ve also got the full sister with Lindsey Smith, unraced, she’s probably a couple of weeks away from a trial.
“I’ve only bred a few over the years, he’s by far the best obviously, I’ve been cheering him on the whole way through.
“I’ve used the Inglis Digital platform plenty of times to buy and sell, it’s a great platform.’’
Helios Express is the first winner from Paris Texas, a winning Hinchinbrook mare from the family of Group winners Hadabeclorka, Chocante and Lavish Girl. Sadly, she died in 2021 after producing just two foals.
Helios Express is one of 36 stakes-winners for Toronado,w hose yearlings are in keen demand at Inglis Premier selling for up to $420,000.
